When Best of Show Automotive President Joe Carroll saw photos of this matching-numbers '65 Malibu SS convertible, he had only four words to say: "Get it in here." So if he says this is a special car, you'd better assume it's about as nice as they come.

The first Malibu was a top-line subseries of the mid-sized Chevrolet Chevelle. Interiors were more lavish than lesser Chevelle 300 and 300 Deluxe models thanks to patterned cloth and vinyl upholstery (all-vinyl in convertibles and station wagons), deep-twist carpeting, deluxe steering wheel and other items. The Malibu SS was available only as a two-door Sport Coupe hardtop or convertible and added bucket seats, center console (with optional four-speed manual or Powerglide transmissions), engine gauges and special wheelcovers, and offered with any six-cylinder or V8 engine offered in other Chevelles, with the top option being a 300 horsepower 327 in 1964.

For 1965, Malibus and other Chevelles received new grilles and revised tail sections but carried over the same basic styling and bodies from 1964. The Malibu and Malibu SS models continued as before with the SS featuring a blacked-out grille and special wheelcovers.
This gorgeous Madeira Maroon Malibu SS convertible has just received a highly authentic 2-year frame-off restoration. It packs a 250 horsepower Turbo-Fire 327 V8 and 4-speed manual transmission, along with a black bucket seat interior and white vinyl convertible top.

The bodywork on this car is spectacular, and we have restoration photos of it being stripped to bare metal before being completely refinished. The quarter panels and trunk floor have been replaced, then everything was straightened and aligned perfectly. Judging by the results, the guys who did the work were first-rate craftsmen, and it's impossible to see where the repairs were made, which is how it should be on a car of this caliber. Once all the metal was in place, it was primed, blocked, and then finished in the original Madeira Maroon using basecoat/clearcoat paint for a spectacular shine that looks about a mile deep.

I'm looking at an original brochure for the '65 Chevelles that comes with this car, and on the cover is a Madeira Maroon Malibu, and I have to say the panels on that brand new, heavily retouched cover car don't line up as well as those on this convertible—THAT's how nice this Malibu convertible is!

All the trim was refinished at the same time, or else replaced with high-quality reproduction pieces. The front and rear bumpers are flawless with none of the waves and grinding marks you often find at lesser chrome shops. All the stainless has been straightened and buffed, including the long trim pieces along the rockers and around the wheel openings. The Malibu SS and crossed flag emblems are flawless reproductions with crisp detailing, and all the window surrounds are like new.

The manual convertible top was also replaced, and it is a gleaming, pure white with no wrinkles or stains—in fact, I doubt it has been down since the car was completed. The plastic rear window is crystal clear, and the top frame itself has been completely sandblasted and repainted factory black. There's a fitted black vinyl boot that matches the interior that hides the top stack when it's stowed.

Mechanically, this car features its original matching-numbers powertrain that has been completely rebuilt. Pop the hood and you'll find a superbly detailed small block in traditional Chevy orange, topped with a 4-barrel, making 250 horsepower. There are correct 327 Turbo-Fire and 250 horsepower decals on the valve covers. Everything is the correct color or finish, including the cast iron log-type exhaust manifolds and steel heat shields for the spark plugs. The hoses carry the proper GM markings and are secured by authentic tower hose clamps as original. The original radiator has been refreshed and is in place at the front of the engine compartment, right next to an accurate reproduction Delco battery with tags. The master cylinder is new, and feeds stainless steel brake lines. The car is also equipped with optional power steering, and the system features all-new lines and hoses that match the originals exactly. Not only is this an engine compartment you'll be proud to show off, it will be one that can bring home trophies.

Underneath, you'll find the original 4-speed manual transmission feeding the factory 3.08 12-bolt rear end with PosiTraction. The undercarriage has been properly undercoated for durability and sound control on the open road, with all the ancillary parts being installed afterwards for a clean, professional look. The true dual exhaust system is an accurate reproduction piece that gives the engine just a little bit of a growl without being obnoxious. Remember, this is a great cruiser, not a street fighter, and the Malibus were supposed to be the luxurious up-market Chevelles. You'll also note that new fasteners have been used throughout. The 4-wheel drum brakes and suspension have been fully rebuilt, including new shocks at all four corners. It rides on a set of color-matched 14-inch steel wheels with dog-dish hubcaps mounting 7.75-14 Firestone redline bias-ply tires.

The all-new interior is incredibly inviting, and it's easy to imagine yourself climbing behind the wheel of this Malibu and heading out onto the highways. Every single piece is obviously brand new, from the foam under the new black vinyl seat-covers, to the seatbelts that carry the correct buckles. When you ordered a 4-speed, you automatically got a console in the Malibu SS, and it is a very cool looking brushed metal affair that has been completely restored. I can only imagine the amount of time it must have taken to detail and polish all those little grooves, and you know it wasn't an inexpensive process. The dashboard was done the same way, and it, too, is obviously restored. The gauges appear original and are fully functional, with the odometer showing an authentic 96,328 miles since new. The factory AM radio works perfectly, too. Finally, the trunk has been repainted with the correct spatter finish and includes a new trunk mat, jack, wrench and matching spare tire.

Documentation includes the original owner's manual, top manual, warranty booklet, fisher body tag with the production date of July 21, 1965, and the build sheet. We also have a stack of restoration photos and receipts on the car that document the quality of the restoration. Finally, there's that original 1965 Chevelle brochure I mentioned earlier, which is a cool piece of memorabilia.

Looking at the price tag on this car and the amount of work done, I'd call this one of the bigger bargains in our collection today. The car has a solid pedigree with all matching numbers, has been faithfully restored in its original color combination, and packs decent horsepower and a shift-it-yourself transmission. Really, is there anything better for going out cruising on a warm summer night than a convertible like this? There's no way you can duplicate this car for the money, and once again it proves the old rule of thumb in the collector car hobby—it's always better to buy the nicest car you can find than to try to restore it yourself. You may look for a long time, but I don't think it will be easy to find a nicer '65 Malibu Super Sport convertible than this one. Call us today!